Vidushi Gaur/ New Delhi

India emerged victorious in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in a nail-biting final held at the Dubai International Stadium on March 9. The Indian team successfully chased down a target of 252 runs, reaching the mark on the last ball of the 49th over.

Captain Rohit Sharma played a crucial role in India's triumph, scoring a stellar 76 runs and earning the Man of the Match title. With this win, India secured its third Champions Trophy title.

India's first Champions Trophy win came in 2002 when it shared the title with Sri Lanka. The team lifted the trophy again in 2013 under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. Now, under Rohit Sharma's leadership, India has once again etched its name in history.

Chasing 252, India got off to a strong start with an impressive 105-run partnership for the first wicket between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Rohit was in an aggressive mood, reaching his fifty in just 41 balls with five fours and three sixes. Gill played a more cautious innings, scoring 31 runs off 50 balls before falling to Mitchell Santner in the 19th over, caught by Glenn Phillips.

India suffered a setback when Virat Kohli was dismissed cheaply, scoring just one run before being trapped lbw by Michael Bracewell. Despite the early losses, the team remained steady, thanks to Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer, who put on a crucial 61-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Rohit Sharma was eventually dismissed while attempting a big shot, stumped by Rachin Ravindra for 76 off 83 balls, which included seven fours and three sixes. Shreyas Iyer played a commendable innings, scoring 48 off 62 balls with two sixes and two fours before being caught by Mitchell Santner off Rachin Ravindra.

Axar Patel (29) was dismissed by William O'Rourke off Bracewell, leaving India at 203/5. From there, KL Rahul played a crucial role, scoring a composed 34 runs to guide India toward victory. Hardik Pandya (18) and Ravindra Jadeja (9*) also made vital contributions in the final overs, ensuring India's win.

Earlier, New Zealand, opting to bat first after winning the toss, posted 251/7 in their 50 overs. Daryl Mitchell top-scored with 63, while Michael Bracewell added 53 and Rachin Ravindra chipped in with 37 runs.

India's bowling attack was led by Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, who took two wickets each. Mohammed Shami also contributed with a wicket, restricting New Zealand from setting a higher target.

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With this victory, India reaffirmed its dominance in international cricket, winning its third Champions Trophy title. Rohit Sharma's leadership and the team's collective effort played a crucial role in clinching this memorable win.